Tapizar and Alternation, main contenders for the Razorback Handicap
The Steven Asmussen trained 4-year-old colt, Tapizar, came out swinging in his seasonal debut at Santa Anita Park’s dirt course in the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes at about 1 1/16 miles under Corey Nakatani, defeating, Balladry, by a margin of three and a
half lengths.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Tapizar set the pace in the San Fernando Stakes, and went all out never looking back to post the time of 1 minute and 41.80 seconds, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 97, while Prayer for Relief finished third.
He was then sent as the odds on favourite for the Grade 2 Strub Stakes. Getting stretched in distance wasn’t ideal when he had run over the same distance only once in his career and on that occasion he finished fifth.
It was an improvement this time around, as Tapizar finished fourth to, Ultimate Eagle, on the day at Santa Anita Park’s dirt course. After setting the pace where he turned in six furlongs in 1 minute and 10 seconds and for a mile he took 1 minute and 33.60
seconds, the colt finished 10 lengths behind Ultimate Eagle in the nine furlong test.
Now he is set to head the Grade 3, $125,000 Razorback Handicap field, along with Alternation.
Pin Oak Stable’s Alternation will also participate in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap, and he too kicked off the new season brightly, with a win in the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park, over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
Both these 4-year-old colts distinguished themselves on different coasts last year, as Tapizar went on to participate in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park, as he won the 1 1/16 mile test on dirt, and Alternation chose the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes
at Belmont Park.
Their paths meet this year as 4-year-olds, and both of them winning their seasonal debuts will allow fans and racegoers to have a clear look at two runners who are poised to make it big, and to be serious players in the older horse ranks this year around.
Win Willy is making a comeback, and probably goes as the third choice for the Razorback Handicap coupled with Cliff Berry.
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